Hello again Razzball readers! I’ve really been enjoying contributing to Razzball so far and I look forward to answering more questions and helping more fantasy teams. Asher Molk and I will be working as a team and editing each other’s columns so feel free to ask either of us any questions; we’d love to help! And check us out on Twitter at @BraudeM and @AsherMolk.

This column will just include just the Thursday night game. I will release one later in the week that includes Sunday and Monday’s games.

Before you read my matchups column I would like to give you some advice:

Be sure all your players are active and ready to roll on game day. If your player is a game-time decision, check 30 minutes before game day – if he’s active, check what kind of role he is going to have in the game and make sure he’s not just an emergency option.

This article is written every Wednesday so it doesn’t always have perfect accuracy for who’s playing. I just wanted to go over those because getting a goose egg out of someone is detrimental to your team. Good luck in your fantasy leagues!

Philadelphia at Seattle

In Michael Vick’s absence, the Eagles have somehow managed to make their season even worse. Vince Young will draw the start again and has preformed adequately while filling in. He’ll be a borderline QB1 going against a team that ranks 20th in the league against the pass. LeSean McCoyis a game-time call but if he plays – he must be started, his 18.7 fantasy points a game (in standard leagues) makes him simply too valuable to bench – even though Seattle does a solid job of tackling ball carriers. Last week was the low-point in DeSean Jackson’s already horrid season. The talented but troubled wide receiver noticeably short-armed a would-be touchdown to shy away from a hit. This led to a well-deserved spot on Andy Reid’s bench. Still, in two games with Vick and Jeremy Maclin out – Jackson has 10 catches for 161 yards. If he comes back angry, there’s potential for a breakout game – especially if McCoy sits… he’s a high-end WR2 this week. With Maclin out, in a deep league you could start Riley Cooper but he’s just a WR4. Brent Celek has become a reliable tight end in the second half – in his first five games, Celek has 9 catches for 73 yards and 0 TD’s. In the following six games, he’s has 33 catches for 384 yards and two TD’s. He’s back on the radar as a borderline TE1 – start him if you’re desperate.

Tavaris Jackson has thrown for a touchdown in just five of his ten games… he’s thrown an interception in eight of those ten. With Sidney Riceout for the year, don’t even consider him an option. Averaging 26.5 carries in his last five games, Marshawn Lynchhas become a solid RB2 and has attractive matchups in the next two weeks with the Eagles and Rams coming up. There’s no question he’ll get plenty of touches – confidently start him as a RB2. Ben Obomanu will start in the place of Rice but isn’t currently a fantasy option. The only Seahawks receiver I would feel comfortable playing is Doug Baldwin. He led all Seattle receivers with 10 targets last week and will work out of the slot, which is the receiver position the Eagles has struggled to defend most.

@keld: Gotta go Hillis, he’ll get a full complement of snaps and will be featured as the Browns best offensive player – you have to start him just based on touches. The other guys here aren’t sure options to the ball in their hands.

@TV: I would play Baldwin. I think the odds of Smith playing are about 60-40 in favor of him playing so I would go with the safe bet. Who do you have as a possible replacement on Sunday? Would it still be Mo Morris even if Smith plays?

@TV: I like Baldwin more than Williams but not enough to start him tonight. I would wait and see because if Morris is starting he’s the best play in a PPR league. Williams isn’t too much of a drop off from Baldwin so I’d sit on and wait till we know more

@keld: I honestly don’t think that’s happening – Coughlin doesn’t let his players play without practicing, meaning Bradshaw must practice tomorrow. If he does go, I’d check how healthy he is before inserting him because playing injured against the league’s best team is usually not a recipe for fantasy production. But could be an option for replacing Hillis against the Ravens if deemed completely healthy.

I know it’s not a question about tonight’s game but . . . if you had to pick two of these three for this week, who would you go with: P. Harvin, D. Bryant, and/or B. Lloyd? Leaning toward Bryant and Lloyd b/c of Harvin’s matchup with Champ Bailey, but Harvin looked great last week. Thanks man.

@James: You don’t want to trust Vince Young tonight so go with Greg Little. Manningham has to worry about Nicks and Cruz so he’s only the third passing option on the Giants. Little will lead these three in targets so I would go with him

@Salty Balty: I’m really high on Lloyd – he draws a lot of targets, Bradford likes him and he’s extremely talented but you have to sit him against the 49ers defense, they’re the best in the NFL. Play Harvin and Dez. Harvin is averaging 11 touches a game with AP out so you’re not gonna want him on your bench. Good luck

Hey there Mike. How do you feel about Vince Young vs. Philip [email protected] this week? It seems like a close call to me, and I really don’t want to be relying on Philip Rivers to win the game for me Monday night.

In a standard league, I plan on starting Foster and Murray at RB, and then two of the following at WR: Fitzgerald, Lloyd, and Marshall. Which two WRs would you start? And then, out of the remaining WR, Jonathan Stewart, or Kevin Smith, who would you start at flex? Incidentally, I’m most reluctant on Smith due to possibly not being 100% and/or not playing and it being the Sunday night game. Thanks for your help!

Here what I would do: Start Fitz and Marshall at WR – they’ve both been great. Then you’re left to pick a flex, I would go Stewart – he’s facing the Bucs awful run defense and should see a solid amount of touches. Lloyd is going against the 49ers league leading defense and Smith isn’t healthy. However if really good news comes up about Kevin Smith’s health then you have to consider playing him over Stewart. Smith looked absolutely fantastic on Thanksgiving before spraining his ankle

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